Dorothy McCarthy, age 96, a longtime resident of Washington, passed away Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Halcyon House in Washington.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington. Visitation will begin 12:00 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Monday evening. Interment will be held at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Halcyon House Landscaping or Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Dorothy's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Dorothy Olene McCarthy was born November 13, 1918, in Moravia, Iowa, the daughter of Delmar and Amy (Foster) Wilson. From a young age she enjoyed music and writing. She was selected to play trombone at the 1933 World's Fair Chicago. Dorothy graduated from Moravia High School. She was united in marriage to Bernard Henry McCarthy on September 30, 1940 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington. Bernard passed away in 1970.

Dorothy was a teacher in West Chester, Iowa and a mother of twelve children. The family ran a Tastee Freeze for eight years in Washington. Dorothy was honored as Iowa's Mother of the Year in 1977 and was elected to the Washington School Board. Her hobbies included traveling, card playing and reading. She enjoyed spending time with her friends, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known for telling great stories of all her adventures.

She is survived by her son, Justin McCarthy and wife Donna of Pueblo West, Colorado; son, Michael McCarthy and wife Jean of Des Moines, Iowa; son, A. Joseph McCarthy and wife Chi of Houston, Texas; daughter, Monica McCarthy of Creston, Iowa; son, Marty McCarthy and wife Judy of Washington, Iowa; son, James McCarthy and wife Ann of West Des Moines, Iowa; son, Marcus McCarthy and wife Mindy of Katy, Texas; daughter, Mary McCarthy of Phoenix, Arizona; son, John McCarthy of Lake Elsinor, California; son, Jeff McCarthy of Houston, Texas; daughter, Michelle Brown and husband Blake of Los Gatos, California; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Arden Wilson of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one daughter, Jeanette, in 1977.